St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-06-26

~ s f6s f hcn sel
while the rooms beyond were adorned
with all the Splendor that wealth could
afford.
In one of these rooms sat beautiful
young girl whose thoughts were in
strange diScord TO the enchanting scene
without. She sat. gazing mechanically
out on the clear evening, with a weary,
yet almost defiant look upon her face.
This was the eve before her wedding.
Lucille Moore had been left an orphan
at an early age, and her mothers sister,
fascinated by her delicate beauty,
thought she would be fitting ornament
for her beautiful home, and adopted
her. She had given her niece as much
love as was possible for one possessing
her cold, worldly nature. Proud and
ariStocratic, Helen Carlisle looked upon
wealth and station as the only things
worth attaining.
But over the influential banking house
of Carlisle Il Co. hung the cloud of ruin,
which would surely have descended
had not pecunlary assistance been af-
fOrded. The gifted and wealthy Ray
mond Harcourt had come to the rescue,
at the same time asking but the hand of
Lucille in return.
Strange as it may seem, it was not
love that prompted this request, he hay
ing only met Lucille few times during
the previous season, but pique. He had
been deeply charmed with May Chester,
and the fashionable world looked for
ward to the announcement of their EN-
gagement, but another and Weather
sutton appeared upon the field, mill
ionaire fast verging OH three score years
and ten, and May Immediately and
promptly accepted him.
This rude awakening from his love-
fancy had no outward effect upon Ray
mond except to render him trifie more
cynical. He thought to be revenged
upon May, whose wedding was to take
place in the early autumn. The finan-
cial embarrassment of Allan Carlisle
furnished him the means of so doing,
which he seized with avidity. He fur
niShed the desired relief, and was. the
accepted sutton of Lucille.
The door swung on its hinges softly,
and lady, elegantly attired, stepped
over to where Lucille was sitting, and
laid her hand lightly on her shoulder
q Lucille, my dear, why are you sitting
here so listlessly? Is it not the eve be-
tore your wedding? Do try to rouse
Yourself to take some interest in the
fact''
The girl turned slowly, and drew her
self up to her full height, while her
her low voice filled with passionate
pain.
AUNT, as you well know, mine is a
marriage of convenience; it has been
no question of love between Mr.. Har-
court and myself; he will have his petty
revenge, and the great banking house of
Carlisle will be saved. l have been
bought with price; do not reproach
me for taking no interest in the sale"
Mrs. Carlisle slowly lifted her eye
br0wS in naughty surprise.
Lucille, you are certainly the gamer;
you will preside over an elegant estab-
lishment, become a leader in society;
pray, what more can you deSire?"
What more can desire? Is wealth
and position, in your eyes, all that is
worth posseSSingH' And she suppressed
sigh as she turned to the window.
Mrs. Carlisle laid her lips lightly on
Lucille'S brow, and said:
Il trust, Lucille, that in time you will
view things differently"
SO saying, she softly left the room;
no thought of the sacrifice of Lucille
entered the cold serenity of her heart.
Sacrifice! was she not the most FORUM
ate of girls? That her neice did not ap-
that time would rectify, she reflected.
She had ever thought Lucille pitable
and easily swayed, but when she uttered
a passionate remonstrance at being
thus bargained for, Mrs. Carlisle
astonishmNt and reminded her of her
duty TO the one who had filled a parents
place. Me pictured to Lucille the
beautiful ancestral home of the Carlisles
under the hammer, and Lucille, too
proud and sensitive to be called UNI
grateful, submitted.
She sat where her aunt had left her.
locking on the scene without, where the
crescent moon was rising in her lowell
ness, bathing the soft trees with soft
beauty. Then she rose, and without a
glance at the wedding garments that
lay about the chamber, threw herself
on the rOSe-colOred bed, where she fell
into a troubled sleep.
The sun of another day had not vet
attained its meridian when along the
. wedding avenue the carriages sped and
deposited their fair burdens at the little
neighboring church. Within, rare
exoticS filled the air with their fra
GRANGE where Raymond HarcOurt
awaited his ISAde.
The accustomed serenity was oh his
face, the courtly smile upon his lips, as
Lucille came forward The company
gathered had never seen her look SO re-
gally beautiful as now; she was pale and
pure as lily, and would have startled
them by her seeming impassbility had
not her eyes glowed like stars. The
delicate lace that shaded her neck and
arms was matched in softness by the
skin beneath it.
Raymond HarcOurt involuntarily sup
pressed an ejaculation of admiration.
He suddenly became aware that this
girl that he was wedding was as supe-
Tior to the object of his past foolish
fancy as is the Splendor of the sun to
She mild rays of the moon.
The words were spoken that made
Ray Harcourt and Lucille Moore man
and wife, and they had received the
well-chosen congratulations of the as
sembled throng.
In accordance with Lucille's express
wish they were not to go upon the &C
customed wedding-tour.
The carriage, with its fretted roans,
its mazarine blue livery, halted before